Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning said Wednesday following practice that he threw with no problems and that the sore thumbnail on his right, throwing hand didn’t give him any problems.

Manning wore a piece of tape over the thumbnail.

“It’s OK. It’s OK,” he said Wednesday after practice. “It’s sore, but just more of an irritant than anything.”

Knowing the football players often shrug off injuries, I always like to cross-check those kind of things. So, along with other reporters, we asked wide receiver Eric Decker how Manning threw during practice.

“It didn’t affect him at all,” Decker said. “He was out there. I actually didn’t even know he did it.”

During the Broncos’ 34-14 home win over New Orleans on Sunday Night, Manning’s thumbnail collided with the helmet of Saints defense end Martez Wilson after Manning threw a pass. Had the impact been with the knuckle on Manning’s thumb, the Broncos may have been without their star player for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati, and perhaps beyond.

“It shows with injuries it’s a game of inches, or centimeters,” Decker said Wednesday.